INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 190 member countries. Our role is to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place. Our high-tech infrastructure of technical and operational support helps meet the growing challenges of fighting crime in the 21st century.

This is where you will find the latest news and multimedia from INTERPOL. Read our news stories and speeches; see the Organization in action through videos and photo galleries; and download our fact sheets, brochures and annual reports.

Our global police communications channels and internationally recognized alert systems allow police around the world to share data instantly and securely. A 24-hour contact point and specialized teams provide targeted support to serious crime or disaster incidents.

Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Committee

The Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Committee (ECEC) brings together senior officials and decision makers from all 190 INTERPOL member countries to provide strategic advice on relevant issues and to harness global support.

Created in 2012, the ECEC replaced the former Environmental Crime Committee and continues to assist INTERPOL in identifying emerging patterns and trends in the field of environmental crime enforcement.

The Committee acts as a forum in which law enforcement officials meet to discuss new strategies and practices, share experience and expertise, and build the bridges of international cooperation that are vital in the fight against international environmental crime.

The 1st Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Committee (ECEC) Meeting and Events were held in November 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya.﻿Read the final report

The 2nd ECEC Meeting and Events will be held in November 2015 in Singapore.﻿Read more

To support the Committee in its function, three working groups lead projects in specific areas:

Pollution Crime Working Group

The INTERPOL Pollution Crime Working Group initiates and leads a number of projects to combat the transport, trade and disposal of wastes and hazardous substances in contravention of national and international laws. Pollution crime has a clear and direct human impact due to the hazardous nature of the substances in question.

As well as being harmful to health, the illegal disposal of waste or hazardous substances into waterways, the air, and the ground can significantly damage a community’s livelihood, undercut legitimate treatment facilities and permit the loss of recoverable raw materials, thereby threatening long-term economic sustainability and national stability. The effect of pollution crime on the natural environment can be global, and in some cases contributes directly to the worldwide issue of climate change.

Taking action

The trans-boundary movement of waste and hazardous substances generally occurs from more developed countries to less developed countries, and therefore requires an international strategy. The INTERPOL Pollution Crime Working Group brings together specialized experts and criminal investigators from around the world to work on project-based activities on a global level.

﻿EPA Public Participation Toolkit: The United States Environmental Protection Agency has developed a toolkit to guide public involvement in the elaboration of laws and regulations, particularly those related to the environment. The toolkit identifies best practices in planning, skills and behaviours that government agencies can use to design and implement meaningful public participation programmes.

Current projects

Electronic Waste Sub-group

To identify the illegal networks responsible for shipping thousands of tons of electronic waste, such as used computers, to the developing world. With the establishment of ﻿Project Eden, members of the former Global E-waste Crime Group will provide operational support and act in an advisory role to this project.

Environmental Forensics

To set up and maintain a network of environmental technical and forensic experts, promote best practices in environmental forensics learnt from the professional community, and formulate and distribute a manual through our global channels and training sessions.

For the production and publication of a global pollution crime forensics manual, a sub-project has been initiated with the strong support of Environment Canada.

The group is a global network of experts involved in investigations, prosecution and policy work relating to ship pollution violations. Its activities complement those of the port state control regime, the International Maritime Organization and regional environmental programmes.

Project Leader – Vacant

Climate Change Crime and Corruption

To explore legislative restraints and potential loopholes that may lead to the development of new crime areas connected to the issue of climate change.

Members of the Advisory Board

Participation in the Committee is open to law enforcement officers, officials and experts from all of INTERPOL’s 190 member countries.

Nine members of the Advisory board provide their leadership and organizational skills to the Committee.

The Committee members are elected during the International Conference on Environmental Crime (held every two years), from among the Committee’s delegates, and each serve a term of two years, once renewable.